Joint-fastener



No. 770,898. PATENTED SEPT. 20, 1904. P, W. STARR.

' JOINT FASTBNER.

APPLIOATION FILED 00125, 1903.

NO MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented September 20, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOINT-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 770,398, datedSeptember 20, 1904.

A li ti fil d October 5,1903. Serial No. 175,738. (No model.)

To all whom, it natty concern.-

Be it known that I, FERDINAND W. STARR, a citizen of the United States,residing at Springfield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio. haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in J oint-Fasteners, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to produce a mechanical joint for woodworkwhich can be easily applied without any damage to the material and whichwill be powerful and durable.

Another object of my invention is to produce a mechanical joint of twoabutting sections without mortises and tenons.

Another object of my invention is to provide a fastening-brace form ofthin metal having a central recess which serves as a brace to strengthenthe metal and in which the heads of the anchoring-fasteners may restbelow the surface of the fastener.

Another object of my invention is to produce a stronger joint than bythe ordinary mortises and tenons.

Another object of my invention is to provide a countersunk metallicjoint-fastener as a new article of manufacture.

The features of my invention are more fully set forth in the descriptionof the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, inwhich- Figure 1 is a plan view of one form of joint. Fig. 2 is a sectionon line 0 a, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of the braceunattached. Fig. 4 is a plan view of a miter-joint. Fig. 5 is aperspective view of an angle-joint. Fig. 6 is a partial sectional viewtransversely of Fig. 5.

A A represent the meeting sections of wood to be joined.

B represents the metallic fastening-brace, provided with a depression 6,having holes a a, through which pass the fastening devices, specificallyshown as screws of the ordinary form. In aplain joint, as is shown inFig. 1, a plain brace, as is shown in Fig. 3, is used. It is countersunkacross the meeting sections of the wood substantially flush with thesurface. The screws pass through the orifices at an angle relative tothe line of the joint, as

without undue strain upon the metal.

shown in Fig. 2. With the kind of joints shown in Figs. A and 5 plainmetallic strips are employed provided with one or more concavedepressions b 6 practically identical with the individual brace shown inFig. 3. In the joint shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the concave depression ofthe plate is not countersunk into the joint-sections, but is placedsnugly in the joint, with the edges 0 c of the brace and the orifices aa, bearing against the sides of the meeting sections of wood. A strainimparted to this joint in any direction will be efiectuallycounterbraced by this device, and the joint is almost if not quite asdurable as an integral structure. These joints can be made and sold as astaple article of manufacture. They do not have to be especially fittedto each job. These concave or countersunk braces not only stiffen themetal and strengthen the joint, but they receive the heads of thefastening devices below the surface of the wood. Preferably the screwsare inclined to an angle of forty-five degrees relative to the line ofthe joint, it being obvious that in this position they are disposed tosustain equal strains upon any side ofv the joint.

In the preferred form of construction the fastening -piece has a concavedepression. This concave or conical form of fastening is by far the bestform, first, because the metal can be spun or stamped in the shape Themetal is strengthened in cross-section and serves as a brace to thejoint. Second, this form of construction is preferable where the concaveor conical depression of the metallic fastening-plate is to becountersunk into the abutting joint-sections, as the ordinarycounter-sinking tool making a circular recess may be employed and thejoints more rapidly made.

This form of fastening contains many forms of advantages, especiallywhere joints are to be made of sections of soft or brashy timber, whensuch joints are made of mortises and tenons very materially weak instructure, whereas the use of my fastener not only makes a strongerjoint, but the joint-sections are not materially weakened.

It will be observed that the depressions formed in the metaljoint-fastener perform two important oflices: First, to strengthen thefastening plate in cross-sections, so that a thin piece of metal may beemployed and yet obtain strength to transverse strains. The depressionsof corrugated like formation increase the tension strength of thejoint-fastener many many fold. Second, such fastening-pieces are adaptedto be used in kneejoints, right-angle joints, and butt-joints. Theconical or concave form of depression is preferred, because it is somuch easier applied than other forms.

I do not wish to limit myself to the use of my fastening device touniting sections of wood.

Having described my invention, 1 claim 1. A joint composed of twoabutting sections, a metal fastening-plate having a concave depressionformed in the plate with marginal flanges around the depression,orifices pierced in opposite sides of the depression, through which passdiverging fasteningscrews, which are driven into the abuttingjoint-fastening sections, substantially as described.

2. A combined brace and joint-fastener, formed of abuttingjoint-sections and a metal plate having concave depressions countersunkinto the joint-sections, anchor-holes being pierced in diametricalopposite sides within the concave depression, and anchoring devicesinserted through said holes and into the abutting joint-sections,substantially as described.

3. A non-tenon joint formed of two abutting joint-sections, securedtogether by a metallic joint-fastener plate, having a concave depressionformed centrally in said plate and a marginal flange around thedepression, orifices pierced in the sides of said depression,anchoring-screws inserted through said orifices, and diagonally into theopposite jointsection, substantially as described.

L. A joint composed of two abutting sections, a metal fastening-platehaving two concave depressions formed in the plate with marginal flangesaround said depressions, a countersunk hole in each of the abuttingsections in which the said concave depressions lit and rest, andanchoring devices inserted through and within the concave depressioninto the abutting joint-sections, substantially as described.

5. A joint-fastener consisting of a metal plate having two or morecountersunk annular depressions in the surface thereof provided withorifices adapted to receive fastening devices, substantially isdescribed.

In testimony whereofl havehereunto set my hand.

FERDINAND W. STARR. \Vitnesses:

H. H. SCHMIDT, JAooB M. HARNER.

